Wire-fence machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. D. E. DEETER.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

No. 429,232. Patented June 3,1890. I

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2 Sheets- Shet 2,

(No Model.)

D E DEBTBR WIRE FENGB MACHINE.

Patented June 3, 1890 2 2 w R H A W W kw 1 L f I M w m m1 W a 8 M A n w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL E. DEETER, OF SYRACUSE, INDIANA.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,232, dated June 3, 1890.

7 Application filed September 16, 1889. Serial No. 324,149. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known I, DANIEL E. DEETER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Kosciusko and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Fence- Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for constructing that class of fences, which are.

built of wire and slats orpickets interwoven; and it has for its object to construct a machine of this class which shall be simple and inexpensive and which can be conveniently manipulated by one person.

With these ends in View the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. V

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating my improved fence-machine in the process of constructing a fence. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the fence-machine detached. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the fence-machine. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tension device. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the latter.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The wire-twisting device of my improved fence-machine. comprises the side pieces 1 1., having forwardly-extending lugs or ears2 2, of which there may be two or more pairs, according to the number of wires which the fence is desired to have. The side piecesl 1 are secured to and separated by blocks 3 3 at their upper and lower ends, and a rearwardly-extending handle 4 it secured about centrally between the said side pieces. Between the lugs 2 2 are placed the wire-twisters 5 5, which are mounted upon bolts 6, extending transversely through the ears or lugs 2. The said twisters consist of suitable arms or levers of suitable dimensions, which are provided near their outer ends with notches 7 in their upper and under vsides to receive the wire. The side pieces 1 1 of the Wiretwister are provided with notches or recesses 8 adjacent to the upper and lower edges of the ears or lugs 2 to accommodate the wires when the twisting-heads swing around, and thus enable the said wires to be completely lapped or crossed at each operation.

The tension device ofmy improved fencemachine comprises a pair of side pieces 9 9, secured to and separated by blocks 10 10, arranged at suitable distances apart. The side pieces 9 9 have bearings for a series of winding posts or shafts 11, arranged at the distance from each other which the wires of the fence are desired to be apart. The ends of the said winding-posts are squared to receive akey or crank, by means of which they may be manipulated, and the said shafts are provided between the side pieces 9 9 with perforations 12 for the attachment of the ends of the fencewires. The said shafts are further provided with perforations 13, adapted to register with perforations 14 in the side pieces 9, for the purpose of receiving keys 15, by which they shall be held from rotation.

16 16 designate cross bars extending through the side pieces 9 9, closely adjacent to each of the shafts 11.

17 17 designate the fence-post, and 18 18 are horizontal braces by means of which the tension device is maintained in an upright position at a suitable distance from the last post of the fence.

In connection with my improved fence-machine I use a series of eveners, each comprising apair of side pieces or cheeks 19, between the ends of which are journaled the pulleys 20 and 21.

22 22 designate the tension-wires, one end of each of which is attached to one of the shafts 11, upon which it is wound a suitable number of times. The end is then carried over the pulley 21 of one of the eveners and back to one of the cross-bars 16, to which it is made fast.

23 23 designate the fence-wires, one end'of each of which is made fast to the first post of the fence after which it is swung along the fence and carried over the pulley 20 of one of the eveners and back to the first fence-post, where it is made fast. This having been done, the shafts 11 are rotated by means of a key or crank until the desired strain or tension is produced, after which the said shafts are made fast by the keys 15 passing through the perforations 14 and 13 in the frame-pieces 9 and shafts 11, respectively.

The twisting device may now be adjusted for operation by simply inserting the wires in the notches 7 of the twisting-heads and raisin g the twisting-frame until the said twistinghcads occupy a Vertical position, thus causing the fence-wires of each pair to be spread apart horizontally. A slat or picket is then inserted between the wires, and the twistingframe is forcedin a downward direction, thus causing, the twisting-heads to make a onehalf revolution and lapping or twisting the wires behind the picket. The next picket is now inserted between the wires and the twisting-frame is raised, thus twisting the wires in the opposite direction. Each time the operation is repeated the twisting-frame is slid or moved a short distance laterally upon the wires to make room for the next picket. When the strain upon the wires become too great, the tension may be relieved by uncoiling the tension-wires from the shafts 11. It will be seen that the eveners serve to equalize the strain upon the wires of the fence during the process of construction.

The twisting device is exceedingly simple and easily operated, and by the use of myimproved machine a handsome and durable fence may be constructed quickly and economically.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 15-

1. In a fence-machine, the herein-described twisting device, comprising the side pieces having forwardly-extending lugs or cars and notches or recesses adjacent to the upper and lower sides of the latter, the levers or twistin g-heads mounted pivotally between the said lugs, and having transverse notches in their upper and lower edges near their outer ends, and a rearwardly-extending handle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination, with a suitable frame, of the twisting heads or levers having transverse notches in the upper and lower sides near their outer ends, the side pieces of said frame being provided with transverse recesses to register with the notches of the piston-heads when the latter are swung to a vertical position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the tension device having the cross-bars, the windingposts, and the keys for securing the latter in position, the eveners consisting of cheeks or side pieces, and pulleys journaled between the ends thereof, and the twisting device comprising a series of twisting-heads mounted pivotally in a suit-able frame, and having notches near the outer ends registering with notches in the side pieces of the said frame, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL E. DEETER. Witnesses:

ANsoN ODELL,

.4120. W. MILES. 

